Messages - Mizuki

Forefront: I am not staff anymore, and do not have any information on what they are planning to do.

As news on this epidemic is still developing, and the future is uncertain, I would wait until they send more information out our ways. Running an event of this size requires a lot of behind-the-scenes talks with the hotels, vendors, convention center, and even the city. If you wish to get a more direct method of contacting staff, try one of these emails here: https://www.fanime.com/about-us/contact-us/

I don't pre-reg at con for obvious reasons, I was a staffer every year minus one, Last year I didn't pre-reg. We staffers knew nothing of this new priority system. Now as a staffer, I really don't expect much, it's just a big volunteer gig and I really don't mind that. What I do mind is not being informed of what is to come in the future, there has to be some plan, right? I didn't pre-reg at con last year because I make up my mind to go to Fanime in January, I never know if I am not going to be around for Fanime a literal year in advance, sometimes I have to go back to NY for family, I'm not going to just blindly throw away money for the off-chance I will be attending a whole year later. So here I am, no room. I always get my own room and share it with a friend or two to maintain a quiet atmosphere. I can't do that this year because the very con I put a lot of my blood sweat and tears into did not inform me that this would be happening. No updates, no emails, no tweets, no nothing. This is a fucking joke.

What is the obvious reason? Also, you didn't need to pre-reg at the con to get a room this year. I registered the second day registration opened up, and I got a room. Its kind of amusing; its a great system if people got a room, and if they didn't, it sucks. Every year somebody doesn't get a room. Better luck next time.

I used bad wording, I'm just mostly used to staffing and getting a refund from a pre-reg when staffing just is kind of a pain in the butt, and I didn't know for sure if I was officially done staffing at the end of the year.

I'm writing this as a con goer now, as last year was my last year staffing Fanime.

This is pretty much utter horseshit. I've staffed Fanime for quite a few years, and have basically put in countless amount of hours to make sure the department I worked for did well and expected little to nothing in return.

I don't pre-reg at con for obvious reasons, I was a staffer every year minus one, Last year I didn't pre-reg. We staffers knew nothing of this new priority system. Now as a staffer, I really don't expect much, it's just a big volunteer gig and I really don't mind that. What I do mind is not being informed of what is to come in the future, there has to be some plan, right? I didn't pre-reg at con last year because I make up my mind to go to Fanime in January, I never know if I am not going to be around for Fanime a literal year in advance, sometimes I have to go back to NY for family, I'm not going to just blindly throw away money for the off-chance I will be attending a whole year later. So here I am, no room. I always get my own room and share it with a friend or two to maintain a quiet atmosphere. I can't do that this year because the very con I put a lot of my blood sweat and tears into did not inform me that this would be happening. No updates, no emails, no tweets, no nothing. This is a fucking joke.

Yeah... so I have to ask. What the heck took you moderators or staff so long to notice the discussions we've been having in the forums for quite sometime now? We complain and complain, non-stop but it wasn't until 1 month close to the con you guys start actually communicating with us and actually taking action. And it's not just on the forums are people complaining. It's on almost all of your guy's social media and I'm pretty sure there are people spamming you with complaints with e-mails as well.

You guys claim that all of you are working hard to improve the con. However a lot of us say the same thing. You either provide a generic answer or just ignore our voice's and concern's all the time. Okay so staff rotates and the head changes as well? If that's the case here's something you can do. DON'T change or rotate staff if possible and if someone as important as the head HAVE to switch then find a head that's popular with the attendees or much beloved. They may have different ways of running the convention but that doesn't mean they should discard everything of what the previous head that's done which has made the con successful. I will continue to say and constantly reiterate. 2011 was the last year fanimecon was good and since then everything has fallen downhill. It's not just the guests but everything about the convention in general. Do you guys actually acknowledge our voice? Judging by the the lackluster communication the past months I highly doubt it.

I know you guys read the forums. And if you actually cared you would have resolved our complaints a long time ago. Not only that, it actually feels like you guys try to suppress our feedback one time or not hand us anything to allow our complaints be heard. In the year 2013 a online feedback form was created and distributed. Many people jumped on the bandwagon and filled out the form. You guys have distributed the feedback form on facebook but then a month or two later it was removed from facebook which gives off the impression you guy's can't handle criticism or feedback and the only way for people to actually access it was the official website. It's as if you wanted the least amount of people to find the online form. As far as I'm aware I was never given a survey or fillout form on how the convention was in 2014. I don't even think there was an online feedback form for 2014. What makes you think we can actually trust you'll finally be taking action for once. ( I am so expecting this reply to totally ignored)

Hi citrus,

This is beyond *my* scope realistically. I am a moderator to the forums in a handful of sections, I am in no way a representative to FanimeCon as a whole. All I can do myself is just ask for a way for people to give feedback that will be heard. I know a handful of you are frustrated with the convention and how some things are handled. Moderators =/= Staff. I was actually a moderator on the forums before I was staff! (and I've only staffed Maid Cafe). In the scheme of things, on the forums I have as much as a voice as everyone in this thread who has complaints. You have to remember, this is *NOT* a thread the right people will see, so being aggressive to me is unfair, I personally can only do so much, but you have my word that I will try my damnedest to have your guys' voice heard.

Please refrain from leaving these sort of comments in this section of the forum, it gives literally 0 input/discussion into the topic.

Alright, then let me explain my single word response to you so you can have the proper input you ask of.

You suggested that (you as a moderator) everyone should post their feedback in the ideas and suggestions section. I then told you there is not an official feedback thread and then ask for you to make a pinned official feedback.

Now here's my reason for the "faceplam" comment. You concluded that I'm right, there is no feedback thread, then that your not really a moderator and you can't do anything about it, but "you'll ask some one ".

That my dear, was nothing more than "passing the buck" type of response. That also got me thinking why do you have a moderator title and can't make a simple pinned feedback thread? Is there a lot of red tape you have go through? Do you have to ask your higher ups for approval, or wait till your next staff meeting to make a simple request? So there you go. I hope this is enough input or discussion for your satisfaction.

I apologize if it sounded a tad rude, but sadly emotions don't translate well over the internet.

No problem. no offense taken. However, because I am a moderator for the forums, doesn't exactly mean I have any real pull with how Fanime works and operates (I am Maid Cafe staff, so the end of the year when we can give feedback for the con I will look over this thread and bring up a lot of the concerns I see here.) Also, I'm only a moderator for a handful of the "General Discussion" type forums, not a global moderator (if I could make a pinned thread in the appropriate section, I really would.) Anyways, I will do my best as staff to make your guys' voice heard, and will go through this thread once the end of the year wrap-up stuff for staff happens, and put in appropriate feedback.

I hope this is sufficient enough for you. Sorry there was some misunderstandings.

So I'll be speaking on 2 views, as a moderator of the forum, and as someone who has ran events in the past.

As a Moderator to this section of the forum - It is good a discussion is happening, and it's quite....calm surprisingly, but to the OP and people who have complaints, have you given Fanime itself feedback? I will assure you that MOST Fanime staff who can actually give you answers will most likely not look at this thread, as this is more of a "General Discussion" part of the forums, not exactly feedback for the convention.

As someone who has ran events in the past - It's tough, a lot of things happen, sometimes you CAN'T get what you want, Fanime works pretty hard getting good guests every year, but sometimes things fall through for various reasons. I am trying not to take sides here as there are very good points on both sides, but for the people with a lot of negative feelings about the convention, sometimes these things happen. Even with expanding staff, you have to remember, Staff rotate out, this includes the people running the convention, think of it like the President of the United States, some heads will have different ideas how to run the Convention, sometimes they are popular amongst the con goers, sometimes not so much. I do highly recommend leaving feedback here: http://forums.fanime.com/index.php/board,37.0.html, or going to one of the meetings and leave feedback either during the convention or with an individual department. If you don't do that, and just leave your feelings in this thread, I will give you a 10% chance it will be heard by staff, and like a 1% chance it'll actually reach the appropriate department.

So there's a couple of things you can do. Basically talk about the mechanics of learning the game at a base level, explain roles (support, semi-carry, carry, roamer, etc.), map awareness, etc. There's a lot to talk about when it comes to the basics of DOTA 2 because that's pretty much the biggest hurdle of the game.

Also, not to be mean, but if you have no idea what to talk about and you plan on hosting a panel maybe you should reconsider, but I'm willing to help you out with stuff if you need ideas to inspire you. I'm always down for helping people play and learn Dota, as it isn't something everyone can easily pick up, or even people can teach.